That’s according to a survey of 2,000 adults by punch producer Punchy Drinks, which claimed to have revealed 66% of Millennials feel inclined to drink alcohol, even if they might not want to.
The same research showed that almost half (45%) of those asked drank alcohol through a fear of missing out, while almost a third said they did so as not to be branded ‘boring’.
Men more susceptible
With Brits drinking alcohol on average at one in every three social occasions, it is little wonder there is pressure on those who don’t want to drink to do so.
Young people, according to the research, are twice as likely to say they have a negative relationship with alcohol – 11% of 18 to 34-year-olds compared to 6% of those aged 55 or over.
Men are more likely than women to cave into peer pressure because they don’t want to be labelled as boring – 37% compared with 27% respectively – the research claimed.
Of the research, Punchy Drinks co-founder Paddy Cavanagh-Butler said: “The whole point of going out with friends, whether you’re drinking or not, is to have fun.
“So, it’s never nice to hear that so many of us, particularly young people, experience anxiety and pressure over alcohol – whether we choose to drink or not.”
Not a straight choice
He continued: “As a society, we should be doing everything we can to alleviate this, starting by making clear that a night out doesn’t have to be a straight choice between getting drunk and total abstinence.
“And, as more sophisticated, better tasting non-alcoholic options enter the market, that’s never been truer.
“People who know their limits can have a few drinks and switch to a tasty, non-alcoholic alternative.”